Counterbalanced cover



July 16, 1929. H. w. LoRMoR COUNTERBLANCED COVER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1927 inve/fort v l W L? July 16, 1929. H, W, ORMOR 1,721,308

COUNTERBALANCED COVER Filed Oct, 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffwerzforf mmwa Wzffmm Patented July 16, 1929.

f tins' HENRY W. Lonivion, or CLEvELAND HEIGHTS, oHro, AssiGNoR To WILLAR'D saca AGE BATTERY COMPANY, or'1 CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CoRroRATroN orwns'r vinF GINIA.

COUNTERBALANCED COVER.

This invention relates to improvements in counterbalanced covers, and finds special utility when applied to tanks and vats for use in handling paints, acids and chemicals of various kinds in manufacturing plants.

Containers of the sort mentioned commonly have separable covers which are movable bodily toward and away from the container either by counterbalancing mechanism or by a Crane. Such mechanism is cumbersome and is apt to be in the way of the workmen and to interfere with the use of overhead handling systems for the articles to be treated in the container. i

One of the objects of my invention, therefore, is the provision of a cou'nterbalanced cover attached to ythe container capable of movement from closed to open position and vice versa without any considerable effort even in the case of veryl heavy covers, and adapted to remain "in either closed or fully open position without the use of avlock or latch.

A minor object is the provision of means for automatically increasing` the leverage of the power means acting upon the cover as the latter' approaches wide open position.` y

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description' ofthat embodiment of the invention which7 for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a vat or the like equipped with a counterbalanced cover built in accordance with my invention, the cover being shownin closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view on a smaller scale similar to Fig. 1 but showing` the cover in partially opened position:

Fig. 3 is another view similar to Fig. 1 but with the cover in wide open position;

Fig. 4C is a detail side view of a guide brack- I et which may be employed in connection with the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the bracket shown in Fig. 4:, that is, a view looking in the direction of arrow 5 in Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views.

In the drawings I. have indicated at 10 a container which may be a vat for acid or other chemicals or any other type of tank or box, although the invention will be most useful The cover of the container is shown at'll.

It is here illustrated as provided with two or l er. r

more reenforcing and supporting angle irons i' 12 to which the cover isconnected by any convenientmeans. 'Ihe angle irons 12 extend beyond the re'ar edge of the cover 11 and crosswise of supporting brackets 13 which are mounted upon the rear wall of the container. These brackets carryf hinge pintles 111 which extend through the angle irons 12 andv upon which 'the cover swings. Y n i On the upper side of the rear extremity of at least one of the angle irons 12, I secure a guide bracket consisting of anV angular piece 'ofy metal 15 with a curved upper end, Vas

shown, and a channelled'guide bar 16. Thev upstanding arm of the angular member 15 is longer than the base arm, for al purpose which will hereinafter appear. A coil spring 17 is attached at its lower end to an angle bracket 1 8 on the container 10 4or to any other r fixed connection. Its upper end is attachedy to a exible connecting member7 such as a chain 19, adapted to rest within the channeled guide 16 and extending over the curved end of said guide, being there attached to an eye bolt 20 which protrudes through' a hole in an angle bracket 21.l A nut 22 on" the end ofthe boltserves to draw up the ChainA and thereby control the tension of the spring 17 Any suitable means may be employed to prevent the cover from swinging back of its vertical position. F or this purpose, I have shown a stop 23 mounted in bracket 13 (see Fig. 3).,

In describing the operation of the invention, we will Consider that the entire mass of the cover is located in its center of gravity and the letter WV on the drawings indicates this mass. The power pull of the spring 17 will be designated l?. The leverage through `which gravity acts upon W is indicated by in the hinges but gravity as well tends tol hold the coverin closed position. When the p operator desires to open the container, he

grasps the forward edge of the cover and swings it up until the leverage through which gravity acts upon the cover is reduced to such an extent that A 'P becomes greater than B az V. The angle through which the cover must be swung in order to shift the advantage to A as P'can be varied within rather wide limits, but I prefer to have the critical position about that illustrated in Fig. 2,Where A 00 P is greater than B a0 W. vHence, after causing the cover to pass the position indicated in Fig. 2 moving upwardly, the operator may, if hedesires, let go of the cover, whereupon it will of itself move into the position of Fig. 3. In the latter position, A ai P is considerably greater than B W, and hence the cover is quite positively held in open position. This effect is increased by the fact that the leverage A is controlled by the long arm of the guide bracket piece l5, while in all positions between Figs. l and Zthis leverage remains fairly constant, being controlled by the short arm of the bracket piece 15.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a cover, a horizontal hinge therefor located to one side of'l the center of gravity thereof, and means acting upon the cover on that side of the hinge which is opposite said center of gravity tending to move the cover from horizontal position toward vertical position, said means overbalancing the action of gravity upon the cover and friction in the hinge only after the vcover has been swung upwardly upon its hinge away from horizontal position.

2. In combination, a receptacle, a substantially horizontal cover therefor, a hinge for said cover near one extremity thereof, and

means acting upon the cover tending to open hinge only after the cover has been swung upwardly upon its hinge a predetermined distance.

3.In combination, a cover, a horizontal hinge therefor located to one side of the center of gravity thereof, and power means acting upon said cover through the leverage of a power arm tending to move the cover from horizontal position toward vertical position, the length of said power arm being automatically increased as the cover ap preaches vertical position.

4. In combination, a cover, a horizontal hinge therefor located to one side of theA center of gravity thereof, a spring tending to move the cover fi'oin horizontal posit-ion toward vertical position, said spring working leverage when the cover is in closed position.

6. In combination, a receptacle, a substanV tially horizontal cover therefor, a hinge lor said cover near one extremity thereof, and

means acting upon the cover tending to open it, said means being incapable of lifting the cover from closed position, beingA capable of balancing the cover in a partly open position, and being capable ofl overbalancing the cover in a. fully open position.

In testimony where f,

signature.

HENRY V. LORMOR. Y

I hereunto affix rmy i 

